Will the Kings Give up on Their 2024 First-Round Pick This Year?
The Sacramento Kings are facing a difficult decision when it comes to rookie guard Devin Carter. His NBA career has gotten off to a rough start, with injuries and stretches of inconsistent play limiting his ability to showcase his potential. For a lottery pick, that lack of early production raises questions about how patient the team should be. Now, with a new front office in place, Carter’s future in Sacramento looks more uncertain than ever.
One major factor working against Carter is that he wasn’t this regime’s draft pick. Front offices often prefer to invest in players they selected, and Carter stands out as the most unproven of the team’s guard group. His skillset, which blends defensive intensity with streaky shooting, doesn’t seamlessly fit into the Kings’ rotation right now. Unless he leaps in efficiency, it’s easy to see why the team might look elsewhere.
The Kings have also been linked to veteran guard Russell Westbrook, a move that would almost certainly require trimming their crowded backcourt. Carter feels like the most logical piece to move in such a scenario, given his limited role so far. However, parting with a recent lottery pick just to bring in an aging veteran is a tough pill to swallow. The front office has to weigh immediate impact against long-term upside, and Carter sits right in the middle of that debate. Another wrinkle is the addition of Dennis Schröder, whose presence could both help and hurt Carter. In theory, Carter could learn from a steady veteran and benefit from less pressure to produce right away. However, in practice, Schröder’s minutes may eat into any opportunity for Carter to prove himself on the court. For a young guard trying to establish a role, that lack of playing time could stunt his development even further.
If Sacramento does decide to move on from Carter, it only makes sense if the return improves the balance of their roster. A wing who can defend multiple positions and space the floor would fit a bigger need than another guard. Trading Carter just for the sake of change could backfire, especially if he fails to develop into the kind of player they hoped for elsewhere. The Kings must be careful not to undervalue him in pursuit of a short-term upgrade.
In conclusion, the Kings find themselves in a tricky spot with Devin Carter. His early struggles, paired with a new front office and a crowded backcourt, put him at risk of being the odd man out. While the lure of adding a veteran like Westbrook or relying on Schröder is authentic, moving on from Carter too quickly could prove costly in the long run. Sacramento’s best path may be patience, but the clock is already ticking on his place in the rotation.
